Stalk-cutter



(No Model.) r

W. F. ACRE 86 W. P. 'WAFPORD.

STALK CUTTER.

No. 597,160 Patented Jan. 11.1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcni WILLIAM FLOYD ACRE AND WILLIAM PENN WAFFORD, OF BROVVNYVOOD, TEXAS.

STALK-CUTTER.

SPEOIFIGA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597, dated n ry 11, I898- Applieation filed February l8 1897. Serial No. 628,966. (No model.)

To all? whom it may concern:

Be it known that We,WILLIAM FLOYD Acne and WILLIAM PENN Wnrroan'citizens of the United States, residing at Brownwood, in the county of Brown and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to stalk-cutters; and the object in view is to provide a simple, light, and durable machine by means of which three rows of stalks may be cut in one passage of the machine across the field. The machine involves a construction by means of which the several cutters may be adjusted as to their angles and thoroughly braced with relation to the main frame of the machine, thus enabling the cutters to be accommodated to the varying Widths of the rows in different fields.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will appearin the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in a multiple stalkcutter embodying certain novel features and details of construction and relative disposition of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a stalk cutter constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Similar numerals of reference designate cor,- responding parts in the figures of the drawings.

The improved stalk-cutter comprises,essentially, a seat-beam 1, constituting the main member of the machine-frame and extending longitudinally thereof. Upon the seat-beam 1 is secured a spring-seat standardzprovided at its upper end with a seat 3 for the driver, said seat being of any usual or preferred construction. Secured also to the seat-beam 1 is a foot-rest in the form of a bar 4, extending transversely across the beam 1 and having its opposite ends upturned to form guards 5.

6 designates the machine-tongue, which is arranged to lap by the front end of the seatbeam, being secured to the under side of said beam by means of two or more bolts. A

- Whiffietree-strap Sis secured to the upper side of the beam 1 by the bolts 7 and is provided at its front end with an eye for the reception of the whiffletree-pivot 9, which enters the tongue 6.

10 represents a whiffletree mounted on the pivot or bolt 9.

Arranged at each side of the seat-beam 1 and at equal distances therefrom are runners 12, which travel in contact with the ground and support the machine. These runners are connected to the beam 1 by means of a pair of arch-irons 13, the latter being secured to the under side of the beam 1 by means of bolts 14. Thefront arch-iron 13 comprises at each end a horizontal portion 15, which rests upon the upper edge of the runner 12, a depending portion 16, which bears against the outer side of said runner, and a second hori zontal portion or car 16'', to which the forward inner end of an obliquely-disposed cutter 17 is pivotally connected. The rear arch-iron 13 terminates with the horizontal portion 15, and

both arch-irons are secured to the runners by means of bolts or other suitable fastenings 18.

Each of the cutters 17 is provided with a plurality of openings 19 to receive a bolt 20, passing also through one of a series of perforations 21 in a brace 22, which is connected at its inner end to the heel end of its respective runner by means of a bolt or other suitable fastening 23, which may be detached or removed for adjusting the brace. The brace 22 may thus be adjusted relatively to the runner 12 and also to the cutter 17, so that the obliquity of said cutter may be adjusted to any desired degree for regulating the machine to rows of different widths.

24: designates a segmental or curved cutter which is pivotally connected at one end to a clip 25, secured to the heel end of the runners 12. The cutter 2a is provided with a series of perforations 26, providing for the adj ustable connection therewith of a brace 27, provided at its opposite end with a series of perforations 28, by which it may be adjustably secured to the rear depressed end 29 of a runner extension 30, secured to the heel end of the runner to which the cutter 24 is pivoted. This construction enables the angle of the cutter 24 to be adjusted to suit conditions.

31 designates an auxiliary brace interposed between one of the cutters 17 and the runner extension 30.

Each of the runners 12 is provided with a metal shoe 32, extending along the undersurface thereof and inclined upward at the front end of the runner, where it is also deflected inward and secured to one side of the tongue 6 by means of a bolt or other suitable fastening 33, thus serving, in addition to its function as a shoe, to brace its runner with relation to the machine-tongue. A

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the several cutters may be adjusted to any angle for adapting the machine to rows of different widths and that the frame of the machine is exceedingly light and strong and well adapted to the purpose for which it is intendedviz. for cutting cotton, corn, or cane stalks, &c.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a stalk-cutter, the combination with a central longitudinal beam to which the tongue and seat may be attached, of longitudinal runners located on opposite sides of said beam and connected thereto by archirons, cutters connected to said runners and adjustable as to their angles, and shoes extending under said runners and having their forward ends deflected inwardly and connected to the 'machine'tongue, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a stalk-cutter, the combination with a central longitudinal beam adapted to have the seat and beam attached thereto, of oppositely-located longitudinal runners arranged upon opposite sides of said beam, arch-irons connecting said runners and beam and spaced apart, oblique cutters pivotally connected to said runners and arranged outside thereof, a segmental cutter pivotally connected to one of said runners and lying between both runners, and adjustable braces interposed between said cutters and runners, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a stalk-cutter, the combination with oppositely-located runners, of a runner extension connected to the heel end of one of said runners and extending backward therefrom, acutter connected pivotally to one of said runners and lying between both runners, a brace interposed between said runner and the heel end of said runner extension, and provision whereby the angle of the cutter may be changed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a stalk-cutter, in combination, a central longitudinal beam, a tongue secured thereto, a seat supported thereon, a foot-rest, extending transversely across said beam, runners at each side of said beam, arch-irons connecting said beam and runners, shoes extending under said runners and connected at their front ends to the tongue, oblique cutters connected to said runners, a central segmental cutter connected to one of the runners, a runner extension projecting in the rear of one of the runners, and the braces interposed between said cutters and runners and runner extension, all arranged for joint operation, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 7

WILLIAM FLOYD ACRE. WILLIAM PENN VVAFFORD. Witnesses:

LoUIs H. MARQUART, W. O. I-IARWARD. 

